Evacuating and heat-sealing machine



25, 1952 J. MARZlANl 2,608,333

EVACUATING AND HEAT-SEALING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 mmvroa g- JOSEPH Mmzzm/w Aug. 26, 1952 J. MARZIANI 2,608,333

EVACUATING AND HEAT-SEALING MACHINE Filed June 28. 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOSEPH Mm: z/mv/ 26, 1952 J. MARZlANl 2,608,333

EVACUATING AND HEAT-SEALING MACHINE Filed June 28. 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I Z Fl g g I INVENTOR.

0 /50 I L i {$5591 4 MmQz/mv/ z 4,- 143 M4 /48 c2 )7 A TrazuE/ Aug. 26, 1952 J. MARZIANI 2,608,333

EVACUATING AND HEAT-SEALING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EVACUATING AND HEAT-SEALING MACHINE Joseph Marziani, Philadelphia, Pa. I Application'June 28, 1949, Serial No. 101,805.

7 Claims. 1

My invention relates to 'acombined heat sealing and vacuum producing machine whereby bags and other receptacles made of thermoplastic materials may be evacuated and heat-sealed in the order set forth.

The object of the invention is to produce an improved machine of the type set forth.

A further object is to produce an improved heat sealing and vacuum producing machine which is relatively easy and inexpensive to produce and operate.

These, and other, objects are attained by my invention as set forth in the following specification and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a heat sealing and vacuum producing machine embodying my invention, the same bein shown as it appears when it is not sealing nor producing a vacuum.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a partial front elevational view of the same.

Fi 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 on Fig. 2 showing details of the driving mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 on Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 5 but shows the driving mechanism after having moved through an angle of 90 degrees.

Fig. '7 is similar to Fig. 5 but'shows the driving mechanism after having moved through an angle of 180 degrees.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 on Fig. 4.

Fi 9 is a sectional view taken on line 99 on Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line lll-l 0 on Fig. 4.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line lll I on Fig. 1.

Fig. 12 is similar to Fig. 1 but shows the machine as it appears during the vacuum producing operation and shows the addition of a conveyor to the machine of Fig. 1.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary top plan view of Fig. 12, certain parts being omitted.

Fig. 13A is a fragmentary sectional view showing details of construction.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged view on line l4--l4 on Fig. 1 showing details of construction.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 12, the machine includes a platform l0 mounted on a pedestal l2 and supporting. a motor 14 which drives a pinion l6 keyed to the motor shaft. See Fig. 2. l The 2 motor 14 is energized or de-energized by a conventional main switch S which is connected to the motor and to a source of energy in the usual way. The pinion [6, through a reduction train l8, drives a gear 26. The gear 20, which is best seen in Fig. 4, is freely rotatable on a shaft 21 which is carried by a bracket 22 mounted on the platform Ill. The gear 20 carries, or has integrally formed with it, a clutch 23 which is adapted to engage and rotate a cam assembly consisting of cams 26, 28 and 32 and spacer discs 30 and 3|. Of thesediscs, the spacer disc 30 will be further referred to. The cams 26, 28 and 32 and the spacer discs 30 and 3| are also freely rotatable on the shaft 2 I and may be in the nature of separable cams integrated by means of bolts 33, or they may be machined on a single casting. The manner in which the cam and spacer assembly is engaged with, and disengaged from, the clutch 23wi1l be hereinafter set forth.

Constantly riding on cam 26 is a follower roller 34 which is connected by a pin 35 to link 38 at a point intermediate the ends of said link. The inner, or right hand, end-of link 38, as viewed in Figs. 14 and 12, is freely rotatable about a'stub shaft 39 which is carried .by a bracket 40, also mounted on platform l0. By this arrangement, as the follower roller 34 rides on the high and low portions of cam 26, the link 38 rocks about theshaft 39. a a l The other end of link 38 is pivoted at 4| to the upper end of a link 42, the lower end of which is pivoted to a lug 43 carried by a curved. strap 44 intermediate the ends of said strap. The ends of the strap 44 are pivoted at 45 to links 46 which the main switch S. The jaw52 is also made ofmetal but is of a U-shaped cross section so as to accommodate a resilient insert 54 made of rubber or the like to provide a cushioned abutment for jaw 5|. By-the arrangementdescribed, as the link 42 moves up and down in response to the rocking of link 38, the arms 48 rock about cross arms 49 to move jaws 5| and 52 toward or away from each other; i

Constantly riding on cam 28 is follower roller 58 which is connected by pin 59 to link 66 at a point intermediate the ends of said link. The

inner, or right hand, end of link 00, as viewed in Fig. 12, is freely rotatable about the stub shaft 39 onwhich link 38 is pivoted, and the other end of link 60 is pivoted at 6| to the upper end of a link 62 the lower end of which is pivoted at 64 to a lug 65 carried by another curved strap 60 at a point intermediate the ends of said strap. The ends of strap 66 are pivoted at 67 to links 68 which are pivoted at 09 to the lower ends of vertical arms 10. The vertical arms I are also pivotally mounted on the same cross arms 49 on which the arms 48 are mounted. The arms '50 carry jaws II which are preferably U-shape in cross section and which areprovided with resilient inserts or the like 12. Each of the jaws is recessed as at 14 so as to permit the resilient insert 72 to yieldfor a purpose hereinafter set forth. The inserts 12 are made of very soft rubber or other highly compressible material. The motion of the arms is. is the same as that of arms 48 and will be more fully explained in recapitulating the operation of the machine, All of the jaws are preferably cushioned by means of springs '19.

A follower roller 80 constantly rides on cam 22 and is connected, by pin BI to lever 82 at a point intermediate the ends of said link. The inner, or right hand, end of link 02, as viewed in Fig. 12, is pivoted at 83 to a bracket atl carried by platform I0. The other end of lever 82 is provided with a transverse arm or cross head 86 which underlies an arm 88 which carries a flat suction nozzle 90 adapted to be inserted into a bag 3 to be evacuated. The inner, or right hand, end of arm 85 is pivoted at 92 to a bracket 93. Therefore, as

follower roller 80 rides over the high and low portions of cam 32fthe lever 82 rocks about its pivot point 83 and, when it moves in clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. the cross head 80 engages the underside of arm 88 and raises it from the position of Fig. 12 to th position of Fig. 1. The arm 80 is retained in its upper position by a spring loaded pin 94 carried by bracket 96 and disposed in the path of movement of arm 08.

7 Thus, and as best shown in Fig. ll, as the arm 88 i sed to t ppe pq iti i it pa 94 which is thus pushed into socket 949: of bracket 90 against the pressure of a spring 95 which urges the pin outwardly or to the left'in-Fig. 11. As soon'as the arm 38 has cleared the pin '04, the latter is pushed out by the spring and prevents thearm 88 from moving down by its own weight,

but does operator. I

e ket .3 and 9 are car i d b a fr me not prevent it being pulled down by the or support 9] which also carries a table 98 which is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and which is omitted from Fig, 12. The frame 91 is provided with hubs 09 which are best shown in Figs. 1 and 14 and which slidably engage stub shafts I00 whereby the table 90, the arm 88 and the nozale 00 may be moved to the selid or broken lines positions of Fig. 14 for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

As shown-in Fig. 8, the cam 32 also has associated' with it a pair of follower rollers I02 and I 00 carried by arms I04 and I05 which are pivoted at I06 to a bracket I01 carried by the platform I0. The rollers I02 and I03 are tensioned against cam 32 by a spring I08 connecting the arms I04 and I05. When rqller I02 rides on a high P0 1 1011 of cam 32, the arm I04 is raised so as to contact and actuate the spring loaded push button I I0 of a micro-switch III also carried by lug I0I. The circuit of the micro-switch III isnorrnally open and is adapted to be closed only when the but-v ton H0 is pushed upwardly by arm I04. This switch III is connected by wire II2 to a suction pump H3. The intake end of the suction pump is connected by tube II4 to receptacle IIO which is also connected by tube I It to suction nozzle 00 on arm 88.

The suction pump is provided with a conventional pressure controlling device I20 which may be set by knob I22 so as to predetermine the degree of vacuum to be produced by the pump. The pressure control device is operatively connected to, and is adapted to actuate, a solenoid I24 whenever the degree of vacuum in bag B reaches the predetermined limit to which the pressure control device I20 has been set. The purpose of thesolenoid and the manner in which it operates will be hereinafter set forth.

A second micro-switch I is mounted near the inner end of arm 88 and has a spring loaded push button I32. The circuit of the micro-switch I30 is normally open but, when arm '88 is moved to its lower position as shown in Fig. 12, the push button I32 is moved. upwardly by contact pressure against adjacen portion of support 91 and the circuit is closed. When the arm 88 is raised to the position of Fig. 1 the push button I32 moves outwardly to open he circuit. The micro-:switch I30 is connected by a wire I36 to the suction pump motor, to close the circuit of the motor when the arm 88 moves to its lower position and to open clutch. The pin I is carried by the pain as sembly and is urged toward clutch 23 by a spring I43. The pin I40 has a tapered groove I 44 adapted to be engaged'by a correspondingly ta:- pered portion I46. of a knifeelikeinember I48. The member I 40 is urged upwardly, ortowards spacer disc 30 by a spring I49 and may be pulled downwardly, or away from disc 30, by means of rod I50 connected to a foot pedal not shown. A similar knife-like member I5I,.is pivoted as at I52 to lug I53 carried by the platform I0, and is urged to the right, or towards spacer disc'30, by a spring I54. The member I 5| also has atapered portion exactly like tapered portion I46 on memher I 48. The action of the knife-like members I40 and I5I is such that when eitherof them is mterposed in h pa h o he sin I40. as it tates with'the cam assembly about the axis of 'the inclined wall of the groove I44 thev pin I40 rides on the inclined wall of tapered portion I40 of the memberI48 or I5I, the pin is moved to the right, as viewed in Fig. 4, or out of engagement with the clutch 23 thus disconnecting the cam assembly from the clutch to stop rotation of the cam assembly. Thefriction between the inner face of th knife-like mflmber I48 or' I15I agamst spacer disc 30, and the friction between rollers I02 and I03 against ,cam 32: serve tov stop the rotation of the cam assembly immediately up n ag ment from theclutch. It will be understood that the gear 20 and clutch 23 0011- tinue to rotate as long as switch 5 is in its onposition. V i

The operation of the apparatus thus'fardescribed is as follows: The main switch S is moved to on position to energize the heater 52:1: of jaw 5| and the motp f [4. Which drivesthe gear 20 and clutch 23. The. operator now pulls the tablet!) 5 and the arm 88 carrying the suction nozzle 90, in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2, or out of registration with the'jaws 52, 53 and 1|. A bag B containing material to be packed, such as sauerkraut and brine is then placed on the table 98 and the table is then pushed back to its position below the jaws and arm 88 is depressed so as to cause the suction nozzle 90 to enter the bag.

In the parts are in the position of Fig. 5, the tapered wall of the groove I44 of pin I40 will ride on the tapered wall I 40 of knife-like member I48 and therefore the pin I40 will be withdrawn from the corresponding opening I42 in clutch 23 to disconnect the cam assembly from the clutch. By pulling down on rod I50, by means of a foot pedal or otherwise, the knife-like member I48 is pulled down, against the action of spring I49 to disengage it from pin I40. The spring I43 now pushes the pin I40 into the corresponding opening I42 in clutch 23 to cause the cam assembly to rotate with the clutch. Movement of roller 58 over an appropriately shaped portion of cam 28 rocks link 60 and actuates links 62 and 68 to cause jaws 1| to move to the closed position of Fig. 12. In this position the jaws H are clamped against the mouth of the bag and against the flat suction nozzle 90 which is inserted in the bag. In this connection it will be noted that the recessed portions 14 of the jaws 1I permit rubber inserts of the jaws to yield so as to accommodate the fiat nozzle 90. By this arrangement the jaws II can be closed tightly against the nozzle 90 without crushing it. Simultaneously, the movement of roller I02 over cam 32 moves link I04 upwardly, as viewed in Fig. 8, so as to move push button H into circuit closing position to energize suction pump I I3 which proceeds to evacuate the bag B. In order that the brine from bag 13 may not enter the pump, the tube I I8 leads from suction nozzle 90 to a tank IIB which, in turn, is connected to the suction pump by tube II4. In this way any brine sucked off with the air from bag B will be deposited in the tank IIB to be emptied from time to time.

It will be noted by comparing Figs. 5 and 6 that by the time the cam assembly has moved through an angle of about 90 degrees to cause the jaws II to close and to energise the suction pump, the other knife-like member I5I engages the pin I40 and withdraws it from engagement with clutch 23 again to disengage the cam assembly from the clutch. The disengagement of the pin I40 from the clutch by either of the knife-like members I48 or i5I, coupled with the frictional engagement of one or both of the members I48 or I5I with spacer disc 30, serves immediately tostop the rotation of the cam assembly.

When the vaccum in bag B has reached the value to which the pressure control I20 has been set, the solenoid I24 is energized and pulls on connecting rod I66 to disengage member I5I from pin I40 thus again causing the cam assembly to rotate with the clutch.

Movement of roller "80 over cam 32 causes lever 82 to move in clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, whereby the cross head 86 engages the underside of arm '88 and raises the latter to the position of Fig. 1 in which the suction nozzle 90 is out of the bag. It will be understood that as the suction nozzle is withdrawn from the bag, the resilient cushions of the jaws II will follow the movement of the nozzle 90, progressively upwardly, and will thus prevent entry of air into the bag during, or as a result of, the withdrawal of the suction nozzle 90 from the bag. The move- 6 ment of arm 08 upwardly allows the push button to move outwardly or to a position in which it breaks the circuit of the suction pump.

The movement of roller 34 over cam 26 rocks link 33 which actuates link 42 to actuate links 46 and arms 48 to close the jaws 5| and 52 against the mouth of the bag at a point above the jaws I I. Ihe heat from jaw 5I and the pressure of the jaws 5I and 52 serve to seal the mouth of the bag. The parts may now be said to have reached the position shown in Fig. 7 and the movements of the rollers 34 and 58 over the remaining portions of the cams 26 and 28 are operative to move the jaws 5I, 52 and II back to their respective positions asshown in Fig. 1, the arrangement being such that the sealing jaws 5| and 52 move to their open position just before the jaws II move to their open position. By the time this has been done, the parts will again be in the position shown in Fig. 1' in which they are ready for the beginning of a new cycle of operation.

If desired the reciprocable table 90 may be re placed by an endless conveyor for supporting and moving the bags or other receptacles to be evacuated and sealed. As shown in Figs. 12 and 13, I use an endless sprocket chain I10 which travels over driven and idle sprockets I12 and which carries cup shaped members I14 each of which has a bottom I16 hinged at I18. The cups I14 ride endlessly over a non-continuous rail I the ends of which are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the length of the bottom wall I10 of a cup I14. The space between the ends of rail I80 can be seen to the right of arrow I8I in Fig. 13 and is so located that, after the sealing operation has been completed, and after both sets of jaws have moved to their open position, the cups I14 will successively move on the upper end of rail I80 as viewed in Fig. 13 and will move, in the direction of arrow I8I, toward the lower end of rail I80. As each cup I14 traverses the space between the ends of the rail I80, its hinged unsupported bottom wall I16 will swing to the position of Fig. 13A and will allow the evacuated and sealed bag to drop onto a table or other conveyor not shown. The movement of the sprocket chain will be intermittent so as to provide an interval of time for the bag evacuating operation. Since this can be done by means of a Inultilated gear or any other well known means it is not deemed necessary to illustrate or describe any particular expedient for carrying out this step.

Except for substituting an endless conveyor for the table 98, the structure of the embodiment of Fig. 12 is identical with that of Fig. 1.

What I claim is:

l. A machine for removing air from receptacles made of thermoplastic material and for heatsealing the mouths of said receptacles, said machine including hingedly connected supports for said receptacles, a first cam, a second cam and a third cam, means. for intermittently rotating each of said cams through a predetermined arc, a first roller adapted to ride on said first cam, a suction pump, a motor driving said suction pump, a suction nozzle connected to said suction pump and movable to a lower position, in which said nozzle enters the mouth of a receptacle, and to an upper position, in which said nozzle is spaced from the mouth of said receptacle, a normally open pair of holding jaws, a first system of linkage operatively connected to said first roller and to said holding jaws and operable by engagement of said first roller with a predetermined portion of said first cam to close said holding jaws against the mouth of said receptacle, a second roller adapted to ride on said second cam, an arm operatively connected to said roller and movable by engagement of said second roller with a first predetermined portion of said second cam to' energize said motor, means responsive to thedegree of vacuum in said receptacle for rotating said second cam to disengage said second roller from said first predetermined portion of said second cam to die-energize said motor, a third roller adapted to ride on said second cam, a lever operatively connected to said third roller and operable, by engagement of said third roller with a second predetermined portion of said second cam to raise said suction nozzle to its upper position, a normallyopen pair of' sealing jaws, means for heating at least one of said sealing jaws, a fourth roller adapted to ride on said third cam, and a second linkage system operatively connected to said fourth roller and to said sealing jaws and pperable by engagement of said fourth roller with a predetermined portion of said third cam, to close said sealing jaws against the mouth of said receptacle.

2. The structure recited in claim 1 in which said rollers, said linkage systems and the predetermined portions of said first and third cams are so related that the holding jaws are clamped against the mouth of said'receptacle ahead of said sealing jaws.

3. The structure recited in claim 1 in which the sealing jaws are located above the holding jaws and engage the receptacle at a point nearer to the mouth of the receptacle than the point at which the holding jaws engage the receptacle.

4. The structure recited in claim 1 in which the predetermined portions of the first and third cams are so shaped and related that said fourth roller is disengaged from the predetermined portion of the third cam before the first roller is disengaged from the predetermined portion of the first cam whereby the sealing jaws are dis- 8 engaged from the receptacle ahead of the holding jaws.

5. The structure recited in claim 1 in which the second predetermined portion on said second cam and the predetermined portion on said third cam are so shaped and related that the third roller operates to raise said suction nozzle before said fourth roller and said second linkage operate to close said sealing jaws.

6. The structure recited in claim 1 in which said cams are arranged with their respective effective pcrtions out of registration with each other and in which said cams are driven simultaneously as a unit.

'7. The structure recited in claim 1 in which each of said supports includes a vertical wall and a bottom wall hinged at one end thereof to said vertical wall, a non-continuous rail forming rail sections and means for propelling said supports with said hinged bottom walls riding on said rail sections, the ends of said rail sections being spaced apart a distance greater than the length of said hinged bottom wall whereby, as each of said supports moves over the space between the ends of said rail sections, the hinged bottom of each of said supports drops by gravity and discharges the evacuated and sealed receptacle carried by such support.

' JOSEPH MARZIANI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

